Correct English Phrasing: Everybody Knows vs. We Know

In English, certain irregular plural nouns like ldquo;peoplerdquo; require special handling in terms of verb agreement. For instance, ldquo;peoplerdquo; is a plural noun, but it uses the third-person singular form of the verb. This can lead to confusion, especially for those learning the language, with statements like ldquo;la gente saberdquo; in Spanish.

Subject and Verb Agreement in Plural Nouns

When a sentence's subject is a plural noun such as ldquo;people,rdquo; the verb should not take an 's,' making it appear similar to the singular form. This is due to the noun being treated as a singular entity in terms of verb agreement, a rule that applies to words like ldquo;childrenrdquo; or ldquo;men.rdquo; Thus, the verb remains in its base form, like in the sentence ldquo;People know.rdquo;

General Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

However, for other plural subjects, the verb must take an 's.' For example, ldquo;the man knowsrdquo; is correct when the subject is singular, indicating a specific man. But when it comes to ldquo;people, rdquo; no 's' is required, as in, ldquo;People know.rdquo; The rule simplifies certain sentences and makes the language more fluid.

The Correct Phrase

The correct phrase is ldquo;Everybody knows thatsomething.rdquo; This construct emphasizes that a universal truth or fact is recognized by a group. For instance, ldquo;Everybody knows that the Earth orbits around the Sun. rdquo; While saying ldquo;Everybody knowrdquo; is grammatically in error, the phrase is commonly used in colloquial speech. The key is to maintain grammatical correctness as much as possible, particularly in formal or written communication.

Emphasis and Restrictiveness

The use of ldquo;werdquo; in the plural form can sometimes make a statement more restrictive. For example, ldquo;All of us know thatsomethingrdquo; highlights a specific group's knowledge, whereas ldquo;everybody knows thatsomethingrdquo; conveys a broader, more universal understanding. The phrase ldquo;We all know thatsomethingrdquo; is often used as a compromise, ensuring that the statement is both clear and broad enough to apply to all members of a group.

Common Mistakes and Correct Usage

Misusing the verb agreement with ldquo;peoplerdquo; is a common English language pitfall. For example, ldquo;We know thatsomethingrdquo; does not necessarily imply that all individuals within the meant group possess this knowledge. On the other hand, ldquo;We all know thatsomethingrdquo; is a more accurate and satisfactory expression, ensuring that the intended message is clear and correct.

Conclusion

Understanding the correct usage of ldquo;everybody knowsrdquo; versus ldquo;we knowrdquo; can help avoid grammatical errors and improve communication in both spoken and written English. Whether it's an everyday conversation or a piece of formal writing, these distinctions play a crucial role in clarity and accuracy.

Keywords: english grammar, everybody knows, we know